U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and I have something in common.  Our lives have been touched by tragedy. 

A few years back the senator lost his son to suicide after Garrett Lee Smith lost a life-long battle with mental illness.  My father, Steve Currie, was lost to suicide in 1998 after enduring a torturous childhood and a lifelong battle with alcoholism.  His brother and sister - my aunt and uncle - died in similar circumstances. 

So I was glad to read this news out of Washington:

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced that the State of Oregon will receive a $400,000 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial grant to implement a youth suicide prevention and intervention plan.  The Award will be distributed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

"It's hard to imagine the pain of thousands of children who are now suffering in silence and that of their families who just want to help," said Smith.  "This grant is especially important to me because it will make a difference in the place where Garrett grew up and the community he loved."   

"Oregon families will see some measure of relief in their struggle with the painful illness of depression with these grant funds," said Wyden. "Oregonians from all walks of life will honor the memory of Garrett Smith as they get help dealing with this difficult and silent problem."

The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, signed into law on October 21, 2004, created a program within SAMHSA to enhance suicide prevention efforts at the state and local level and on college campuses.  The bill authorized $82 million in funding over three years.

Senator Smith has worked hard over the years to honor his son with legislation aimed at preventing similar deaths.  Families all across the nation benefit from his bi-partisan efforts on this issue.  We owe him our thanks.